The Three Worst Words
How are you? It was a question I dreaded after my husband left. People meant well. They didn't realize that as their words drifted to my ears, unformed thoughts and emotions would begin to build up in my throat and overflow through the tears in my eyes. It was a question that kept me tucked inside the house so that I didn't have to face it. Who knew that those three words could pack such a devastating punch. How are you? It's never simple, is it? A friend recently asked me this question at a wedding and I heard myself replying, "I'm fine. I'm fine. Yea, no, I'm. . . I'm totally fine." If you have to say it three times I am not sure you are convincing anyone. I took a deep breath. "Actually, I am probably not fine, but I am a lot better than the last time we talked." "Yea, I remember exactly where I was sitting when you called that day." We both stood quietly for a second as the memory of one of the worst days of my